A4
THE ASTORIAN • THuRSdAy, MARcH 4, 2021
OPINION
editor@dailyastorian.com
KARI BORGEN
Publisher
DERRICK DePLEDGE
Editor
Founded in 1873
SHANNON ARLINT
circulation Manager
JOHN D. BRUIJN
Production Manager
CARL EARL
Systems Manager
GUEST COLUMN
We need better recreational management
A
lready robust levels of hiking,
camping, boating and every
other kind of outdoor recre-
ation in our region has exploded during
the COVID-19 pandemic as many try to
cure the effects of cabin fever.
Increased outdoor recreation has led
to unprecedented crowds in our parks
and forests, and extensive environmental
damage accompanied by little enforce-
ment of regulations by
short-handed local, state
and federal authorities.
This spike in outdoor
recreation has drawn
attention to the growing
impact on tribal treaty
rights and resources that
LORRAINE
is only going to increase
LOOMIS
as the population of
western Washington
state continues to increase dramatically.
The latest evidence confirms what
tribes have been seeing across the land-
scape for years. Outdoor recreation —
whether motorized or not — has signifi-
cant impacts on the environment.
Even the most remote locations are
seeing year-round damage. It includes
theft of old growth cedar and maple,
increased litter and human waste left
behind by campers, vandalized cultural
and spiritual sites that are sacred to our
tribes and human activities that affect
the migration and health of fish, wildlife
and habitats.
Twenty Indian tribes have treaty-re-
served rights to fish, hunt and gather in
western Washington. We understand the
benefits that outdoor recreation provides
to everyone, but our fish, wildlife, plants
and their habitats need protection.
We watch with alarm as federal, state
and local governments continue to plan,
fund and expand recreation without
looking at the cumulative impacts, with-
out providing the necessary enforce-
ment, and often without consultation of
the treaty tribes.
That’s why it’s critical that treaty
tribes, as sovereign governments and
natural resources co-managers, be
involved early in the planning, fund-
ing and development of any new or
Hailey Hoffman/The Astorian
Outdoor recreation places demands on our environment.
WHAT WE NEEd IS cOMPREHENSIVE REcREATIONAL
MANAGEMENT. WE SHOuLd APPROAcH IT AS cO-
MANAGERS LIKE WE WOuLd ANy ISSuE INVOLVING
OuR ENVIRONMENT, NATuRAL RESOuRcES ANd
TREATy RIGHTS: RESPONSIBLy, THOuGHTFuLLy
ANd cOOPERATIVELy.
expanded recreation opportunities, rec-
reational infrastructure and recreation
policy.
Through the Northwest Indian Fish-
eries Commission, we have formed a
working group to address these issues.
We’ve also made a formal request to
Gov. Jay Inslee to designate a task force
to work with us to address concerns and
develop solutions.
As co-managers of natural resources
with the state, we have the right to a seat
at the table when recreation manage-
ment decisions are made and a voice in
how they are implemented. Our cultures
and treaty rights depend on the long-
term health of these lands and resources.
A new park and parking lot here. Five
miles of new trail there and two more
somewhere else. It all adds up to death
by a thousand cuts to our environment,
fish, wildlife and their habitats.
What we need is comprehensive
recreational management. We should
approach it as co-managers like we
would any issue involving our envi-
ronment, natural resources and treaty
rights: Responsibly, thoughtfully and
cooperatively.
Lorraine Loomis is the chairwoman
of the Northwest Indian Fisheries
commission.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Truly a gem
T
hank you for writing an interesting and
entertaining article in the Feb. 18 Coast
Weekend about Mick Alderman, whom we
have had the pleasure to know for many
years.
Concerning live theater in Clatsop
County, Mick and his wife, Rhonda, are at
the top of the list for all the volunteer work
of acting, directing and lighting that live
theater requires. Mick is also the man to call
if a show needs to be recorded on camera.
His original material has always
impressed us with its creativity and scope,
and Mick is truly a gem of a person, as
well.
Years ago, I remember watching him
and his dad bring a car body in through the
front doors of the recently named Charlene
Larsen Center for the Performing Arts. We
really enjoyed the story that was performed
around the vehicle as it sat on stage.
We encourage Coast Weekend to feature
more human interest articles like this in The
Astorian.
NED and LULU HEAVENRICH
Brownsmead
A contrary man
I
am just an old and contrary man. I’ve
lived through a few pandemics, but have
never seen anything like this. Yes, the virus
is virulent and deadly. But our officials’
response is worse. It is killing people.
Ask yourself this, if you are presented
with the facts and allowed to question the
“scientists,” would you alter your behav-
ior to protect yourself? That would be your
choice based on your own risk level.
But, you see, you do not have a choice.
Our leaders know better than you, and must
treat you like children. They must punish
you, if you disobey them, with fines and
possible jail time. You could be killing peo-
ple. You could be a murderer. They must
control you, for your own good, of course.
I am sorry for the illness and death. Yet
it continues, despite the parental-type edicts
and threats of punishment that have ruined
our economy and made people paranoid. Be
afraid, be very afraid, is the message.
This is the United States of America, a
place of individual freedoms. Give us infor-
mation, not paranoia. Those at risk, and
those who are fearful, will take the recom-
mended precautions. Mask up, stay home,
order out. Let the rest of us alone.
ROBERT LIDDYCOAT
Seaside
LETTERS WELCOME
Letters should be exclusive to The
Astorian. Letters should be fewer
than 250 words and must include the
writer’s name, address and phone
number. You will be contacted to
confirm authorship. All letters are
subject to editing for space, gram-
mar and factual accuracy. Only two
letters per writer are allowed each
month. Letters written in response
Dismayed
I am writing with reference to the Pub-
lisher’s Notebook piece by Kari Bor-
gen, “Print or digital — local news isn’t
free” (The Astorian, Jan. 2). In particu-
lar, I was dismayed by the decision to no
to other letter writers should address
the issue at hand and should refer to
the headline and date the letter was
published. Discourse should be civil.
Send via email to editor@dailyasto-
rian.com, online at bit.ly/astorianlet-
ters, in person at 949 Exchange St.
in Astoria or mail to Letters to the
Editor, P.O. Box 210, Astoria, OR.,
97103.
longer allow subscriber comments on the
website.
While Borgen spoke optimistically
about the future of the newspaper, and her
hope for its ongoing role in the life of the
community, the elimination of an essen-
tially cost-less feature that promoted pub-
lic discussion of news and issues seems
undemocratic and counterproductive.
The op-ed mentions staff cutbacks and
other resource-saving issues, but then she
recommends that readers write directly to
the reporting staff, which must be already
greatly overburdened. Furthermore, that
option always existed, but it does nothing
to encourage public discussion.
I would hope that other subscribers
would join me in asking the publisher to
reconsider this action, which reflects, in
my opinion, both a disdain for the read-
ership and a disregard for one of the prin-
cipal roles of a proper newspaper in its
home community.
Not every subscriber may find it com-
fortable to express his or her views on the
issues of the day, but I imagine that most
subscribers value hearing from those who
do write in and comment.
BARRY PLOTKIN
Astoria